UPDATE 1-Chile May retail, factory data weak; World Cup supports

SANTIAGO, June 30 (Reuters) - Chilean manufacturing
production and retail sales continued their slowing trend in
May, though frenzied soccer fans splashing out on new
televisions and stocking up on beverages and food ahead of games
lent some support.

Manufacturing output rose 1.2 percent in May
from a year earlier, due to an increase in the food and
beverages sector, according to the INE.

The increase was higher than a Reuters poll forecast for a
1.0 percent increase, and the biggest expansion in 10 months.

Retail sales rose 4.9 percent in May versus a year earlier,
the second slowest pace of growth since late 2009, the INE
national statistics agency said on Monday.

"Even though growth was greater than the 1.6 percent posted
the previous month, the (May) figure continues to show signs of
deceleration compared to those observed in the first quarter of
the year and all of 2013," said the INE.

Analysts suggest that fans gearing up for Chile's
participation in the World Cup lifted consumption in May.

The economy of the world's top copper producer has been
slowing on the back of cooling domestic demand, especially
investment, and in recent months weakening consumption as well.
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